Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences
Year:2000 | Volume:2 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Although Gadolinium-diethylene triamine penta-aceticacid (GdDTPA) has been used as a contrast material in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), its contrast enhancement effect is not uniform at high concentrations. In order to evaluate the proper pulse sequences for dynamic MRI in aqueous solutions of Gd-DTPA, blood samples, and a melanoma cell line, the signal intensity for several concentrations of Gd-DTPA were measured under inversion recovery (T1-weighted) at high magnetic field strength (7.0 Tesla). For aqueous solution of GdDTP A, signal intensity linearly correlated with the concentration of Gd-DTPA between 0 and 4 mM. Using blood and a melanoma cell line, signal intensity was nonlinearly correlated with the concentration of Gd-DTP A between 0 to 1.5 mM. For concentrations of more than 4 mM in aqueous solutions of Gd-DTP A, 1 mM in blood, and 1.5 mM in melanoma, signal intensity decreased with increase of Gd-DTP A concentration.

In past history, malaria had been one of the most prevalent native disease in Iran and around the world, that caused a lot of economic and social losses. Some of the anopheles mosquitoes are vectors of malaria, thus recognizing their species arid ecology is important to fight the disease. For this purpose, this research was performed in Bazoft section of Farsan district, which is one of the focuses of malaria transmission in Chahar-mahal and Bakhtiari province. The survey included ten villages over a six months period (May to October 1998). In each village four human places and four animal places and larval habitats were chosen and sampling was performed every fifteen days. Adult mosquitoes were collected. by the following methods: Hand catch, Total catch, Night biting and Shelter pit. Larvae were collected by ladling. A total of 1769 adult Anopheles and 2583 larvae were hunted, which belonged to the following species: An. superpictus (67/2%), An. maculipennis (27/2%), An. dthaly (2.4%), An.martri (2.2%), An. claviger (1%). Dthaly and clavier species are reported for the ftrst time in this province. Ecologically, superpictus species was the most prevailed one and dispersed over the entire area. Its maximum activity is during late July to early August, and its seasonal activity begins from the second half of may to late September. In night biting 55% of this species was hunted from animals. Night biting rate for each individual was 1.1. Based on ELISA test, anthropophilic degree of this species was 28.5%. The sporozoit and oocyst rate was .zero. In ovary anatomy, parus rate was 37% and up to 4 dilatations was observed.

Laser iridotomy has a special importance in treatment of closed angle glaucoma. Since upper quadrants of iris are usual position for peripheral iridotomy, superior corneal opacities may cause difficulties. In this study, iridotomies of lower quadrants (150 eyes) and upper quadrants (150 eyes) were compared. Operations were performed in the Resalat hospital, Shahrekord. In the patients with superior corneal opacity iridotomy in lower quadrants was easier. Also, during operation on superior quadrants, if bleeding or pigment dispersion did happen, there was little chance for continuing the operation on other parts of iris, while it was not the case for operation on the inferior quadrants. Therefore, it seems that the inferior peripheral iridotomy could be more successful.

Thymus vulgaris is one of the medicinal plants which in Iran is traditionally used for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. So far there is no scientific pharmacological evidence that could confirm its beneficial effect for this disorder. Therefore, we have investigated the anti-spasmodic effect of essential oil of Thymus vulgaris on contraction of isolated ileum. For this purpose Wistar rats were killed with a blow on the head and a portion of ileum was removed and placed in oxygenated Thyroid's solution. Isotonic contraction induced by KCL were recorded on a physiograph chart receded paper. Effect of series concentrations of essential oil were studied on tonic contraction induced by 80 mM KCl in order to determine the range of concentrations of essential oil which may have an inhibitory effect on ileum contraction. Effect of each concentration of essential oil was compared with its control tissue treated with an equivalent volume of vehicle. Essential oil of Thymus vulgaris, dose-despondently inhibited ileum contraction (potency=0.4±0.12). Comparison of inhibitory effect of essential oil of whole aerial part of the plant shows that pure leaf essential oil of thymus has more powerful inhibitory effect. Drop mixture of Thymus containing thymus (40%), spearmint (30%), cumin (20%) and fennel (10%) is recommended for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. The inhibitory effect of this mixture on equivalent concentration was similar to same proportion of essential oil of above plants. However, the potency of the drug mixture was far less than that of essential oil of leaf thymus. This study clearly shows the potential inhibitory effect of Thymus vulgaris. Since reduction of contraction of intestine is the bases of treatment of abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Our study indicated that usage of essential oil of Thymus vulgaris for above disorders has beneficial effect.

The stresses of labor, environment and nursing care in delivery room can induce unpleasant effects on labor process, on newborn baby and on physical and mental health of mother. This descriptive and analytic study was performed to find types and intensity of delivery room stressors experienced by 320 women having normal delivery. For each subject, a, Sluestionnaire was completed in the delivery unit, by interviewing the subject at the end of delivery (4th stage of labor). Our findings revealed that the unfamiliar environment and women's screaming have been the main environmental subjective stressors. Vaginal examinations, pressure on abdomen for hastening the delivery, perineal suturing and frequent vaginal examinations by the midwife students, have been the main objective stressors. Based on these findings, it was suggested that more effort should be made by the health team to reduce the stressors, especially the objective ones that were more stressful.

Staff burnout is one of the main factors in efficiency reduction. So we investigated the relationship between mentalliealth and staff burnout in nuclear energy organization of Isfahan. This survey study was performed on 102 staff out of 138, using I-Masluch burnout inventory and 2-General health questionnaire-28 tests. The results showed that 10% of the subjects had severe burnout, 14% moderate and" 46% had mild burnout. Overall, 24% of staff had burn out. Also 28% of the subjects showed abnormal mental health. There was a significant relationship between mental health and staff burnout (r = -0.61, P < 0.01). But there was no significant relationship between burnout and age, sex, marital status, educational level, job type-and record of service.

Schizophrenia is a sever psychological disorder. Because of intricacy and obscurity of the disease, various methods including cephalometry, have been suggested for its diagnosis. The diagnostic value of cephalometry is not well established. Therefore a case-control analytic study was performed to compare some cephalometric parameters (head form, face form and head circumference) between a sample of schizophrenic patients (n=196) and a normal control group (n=198). Two groups were matched in height, weight, sex, age and social level. The control group consisted of nonschizoprenic men and women with no family history of schizophrenia. Our results showed that there was no significant difference in face from between two groups. But the head circumference mean in case group was significantly less than that of the control group. Also hyperbrachiocephaly was more frequent in case group. Our results indicated that genetic factors may play a role in incidences of this differences. Also, these findings, might be used as a rough screening method.

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal parasite, which infects a large proportion of population worldwide. The drug of choice for this parasite is thiabendazole but it has a lot of side effects. In this clinical trial study the efficacy of albendazole versus thiabendazole in treatment of strongyloidiasis has been investigated. Eighty patients infected with Strongyloides stercora is divided into two groups. One group (50 patients) was treated with albendazole and the other group (30 patients) with thiabendazole. Cure was defined as negative stool examination, which performed after post treatment follows up. Cure rates of 92% and 100% were achieved for albendazole and thiabendazole respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the, efficacy of two drugs. Concerning the results of similar studies it may be possible to improve the cure rate of albendazole by administrating sufficiently large doses. Therefore albendazole could be the treatment of choice for strongyloidiasis.

Withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been recommended for epileptic children who have been seizure free for sometimes in this study we tried to find the EEG factors before AED withdrawal, that could be prognostic to seizure recurrences in 106 epileptic children. Follow-up visits, were scheduled every three months, at least for one year. Some variables such as 1- background activity, 2- focal spike, 3- generalized sharp and spike waves, 4- focal slowing, and EEG changes from the initial EEG (at the time of diagnosis) were interpreted by a neurologist. If seizure relapsed, AEDs was resumed and follow up terminated. The average follow up duration was 19 months. The overall probability of seizure recurrences was 24.8% (95% C.I: 22.5, 28.5) over the 12 month period. EEG comparisons with previous times were a, significant factor for prediction of relapses. Relative risk of this factor was about 1.98 (95% C.I: 1.01, 3.91) (P<0.05). EEG interpretation at the time of diagnosis was not a significant factor but when the sample was divided/by sex, it was a significant factor in male patients (P<0.05). Moreover, existence or continuing of abnormal findings in EEGs before AEDs withdrawal, was another important factor for predication of relapses (p< 0.05). There was no significant relationship between other EEG variables and seizure recurrence. According to our results, EEG comparison with previous traces could be used as a prognostic factor to seizure recurrences before discontinuation of AEDs in children.